Medical appliance



y 1942- w. T. SCUDDER, JR 2,291,191

MEDICAL APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 27, 1941 INVENTOR.

Patented July 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE MEDICAL APPLIANCE Walter Tracy Scudder, Jr., New York, N. Y. Application September 27, 1941, Serial No. 412,536

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved surgical or medical appliance which may be employed to apply medicament to the lining of the urethra, or as a receptacle for the discharge therefrom, for example, in certain forms of urethritis. The device involves various improvements over the general type of device described in the patent to Doud, No. 1,240,125, granted September 11, 1917.

The objects of the invention include the provision of an appliance of the above indicated character which may be easily inserted, yet retained in its applied position with a high degree of certainty; and so as to apply the medicament or receive the discharge without possibility of leakage.

Various further and more specific objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the description given below, taken with the accompanying drawing illustrating by way of example a preferred form of the invention. The invention consists in such novel features and combinations of parts as may be shown and described in connection with the apparatus herein disclosed.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side view of the appliance, parts thereof being shown in section, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the device.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the de-- vice in the form shown may comprise a thin walled flexible and collapsible sack as at 10, formed of suitable material such as rubber or a latex composition, and impervious to moisture.

tion H, the tubular member is preferably again tapered to a larger diameter so as to form an annular beaded portion 18 adapted to be securely embraced by that portion 19 of the sack inlet located between the beaded portions 13 and 14. Starting at the beaded portion 18 the member I2 is preferably again tapered down to a portion 20 of smaller diameter, which extends for a considerable distance and is finally merged into an annular beaded portion 2| at the outlet end of the tubular member l2.

The tubular member 12 is preferably formed with a uniform cylindrical passage 22, extending from the inlet end l5 and opening into the sack I 0.

The member I2 as embraced by the inlet portion ll of the sack is adapted for insertion into the fossa navicularis in a position such as indicated in Fig. 1, wherein the dot-dash lines indicate the normal interior shape of this cavity when slightly distended for the reception of the device.

When the device is to be inserted, the greater part of the air is preferably first pressed out of sack I 0, and the neck portion of the sack is then stretched somewhat, in a direction outwardly of the end portion 2| of the tubular member 12. This may be done by, pinching this part of the neck portion with the fingers. Stretching of the inlet portion of the sack in this manner has the effect of pulling the annular beaded portion 14 away from the enlarged portion 18 on the tubular The sack may be shaped to include an inlet portion II, adapted toremovably embrace a tubular member as at 12, which is preferably formed of some suitable solid material not subject to corrosion, for example, glass, hard rubber or a plastic composition.

The inlet portion ll of the sack at its terminus is preferably formed to include an annular beaded area as at 13, to prevent tearing and for other purposes hereinafter explained. Also at an area somewhat spaced from the beaded portion I3, a substantially larger annular beaded portion l4 may be formed, to cooperate with the other beaded portion and for purposes hereinafter explained.

The tubular member I2 is preferably of its smallest diameter at its inlet end I 5, for purposes of easy insertion and to fit the urethra, and is gradually tapered externally to a larger diameter as at l6. Starting at the area l6 such member is then preferably tapered gradually to a smaller diameter as at H to provide an annular recessed portion adapted to receive and to be embraced by the beaded portion l3. Starting at the porbeaded portion member l2. The beaded portion 14 is normally so positioned that it is drawn firmly against the I8 and is thereby somewhat enlarged in diameter. However, upon occurrence of the stretching action above described, with the consequent pulling of the beaded portion 14 to a position around the smaller area 20, the diameter of thebeaded portion l4 decreases somewhat in conforming to the portion 20. Thus with slight stretching in the manner above explained the beaded portion 14 will decrease in diameter and become elongated to an extent such that it may be readily passed through the constricted part of the urethra, or oiificium externum. After the beaded portion 14 has thus passed in, the stretching tension is released whereby the beaded portion 14 will be drawn up against the beaded portion 18 on thetubular member I 2, by the action of the portions 13 and 19. This causes enlargement again of the portion l4 because'of the released stretching tension and the camming action against the portion l8. As the portion 14 increases in diameter it is accordingly forced tight- 1y against that portion of the walls of the i'ossa navicularis which is just inside the constriction of the urethra. The annular beaded portion II by its firm embracing engagement with the recessed portion i1, together with the interaction of the enlargement l8 and the area l9, will insure that during the above described stretching operation, the terminal portions of the inlet II will remain firmly in position on the tubular member i2. Then after the device is in position these parts will further cooperate in drawing the enlarged beaded portion ll back into the position shown in Fig. 1, with an expanded diameter for firm sealing relationship both with the tubular member l2 and the inside areas of the constricted portion of the urethra, and at the same time prevent any danger that the appliance will slip out of place. The device may be readily removed upon stretching same as during its insertion.

The tubular members I! may be formed of various sizes with considerable variation 01' shape as may be necessary, but the detachable sack members It, including the inlet portions thereof, may generally all be made substantially of a predetermined or standardized size, readily applicable to tubular members I! of various sizes and shapes. Although I have shown and described only one embodiment of my invention, it is understood that various modifications thereof, additions thereto, and changes in the shape, sire, and arrangement of the parts or other details of conlar member removably embraced by said inlet and adapted for insertion into the toss navicularis. said inlet being formed with an annular beaded portion at its end, the surface 0! said tubular member being formed with an annular depression on a portion thereof adapted to be normally well within the urethra, said beaded portion resiliently embracing said depression, said tubular member being formed with another annular depression which is more extended axially and adapted to be normally within the oriflcium externum, and another and relatively large beaded portion formed on said inlet and for normally struction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. I

Having thus described my invention, what '1 claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A medical appliance comprising a flexible sack formed with a resilient tubular inlet. a tuburesiliently embracing the latter depression at a region just inside the oriiicium externum, said latter beaded portion being adapted to decrease in diameter upon being stretched along the latter depression during insertion of the appliance and to then expand against the inner walls of the urethra at said reflinn upon release of the stretchi tension.

2. A medical appliance comprising a flexible sack formed with a resilient tubular inlet, a tubular member removably embraced by said inlet and adapted for insertion into the iossa navicularis, means normally securing the end of said inlet on said tubular member at a position which will be well within the urethra, and an annular beaded portion formed on said inlet at a position spaced from its said end, said beaded portion being adapted to decrease in diameter upon stretching said inlet along said member during insertion o! the appliance and to then expand in sealing relationship against the walls of the urethra, adjacent to the oriflcium externum upon release or the stretching tension, thereby also retaining the appliance in position.

WALTER TRACY scnnnna, Ji. 

